I bought these shades because they were needed to block sunlight out of a bedroom and master bathroom from the morning sun. I had one thing that I was looking for in window treatments that may not fit most peoples normal criteria when shopping for blinds. I had a transom window over a double hung. They were split with 5” trim board so I wanted the blind to cover the entire window yet also pull the blinds up all the way to expose the transom when the blinds were up. I had another snafu to contend with as both windows in bedroom and bath were trimmed off into a slanted vaulted ceiling on one side. So outside mounting way up high above the trim was not an option. I was able to install brackets just to the top of the window trim but not above it. I have 38” wide windows and was able to fit in a 36”x64” shade mounted right at the top of the trim board. I tested the distance from the top of the trim with another roman shade I had with soft material and it cleared the transom perfectly when pulled all the way up. So I ordered the blackout shades in white in a flat style thinking that it would fold up flatter then the other options, i.e. hobbled, classic. The material in the blackout shades is very ridged and hard. It almost has a cardboard stiff feel. So ridged that when they pack the shade each baffle is filled with a strip of bubble wrap so it does not crimp the baffle. It makes it look a bit industrial and not quite as soft as you would want in a bedroom. So when the blind is pulled all the way up it looks almost hobbled in nature and the fold does not lay flat, they bulge out. When down they look pretty good. They let a little light in on the sides as it is an outside mount but I think they would be perfect blackouts if mounted inside. That was not an option for me. I agree with other reviews that the pull cord kind of crimps the top part of the curtain and gaps it. It is the design of the ridged valance that causes it to gap on the cord I think. My windows are too high up to reach it to fix it every time. I also have one cutain that when you let it all the way down one side won’t fall on its own. You can see the cord up high not retracting out. I have to pull on it to extend it all the way down manually with my hand. I think for a blackout shade it does its job but be aware that the material is ridged and when they are all the way up they hang down 13” from the top of the mounting point or valance top. For me, it covers about half of my transom, which I didn’t want to do. Because each baffle hobbles out when up they bulge out in a rounded fashion especially on the side view. It is not very attractive. I am sure if I ordered a material that was not blackout that it would not have this problem as I have some other regular Romans that do not do this. I am thinking that I could of lived with some light in my rooms for a ascetically pleasing window treatment that would of work better for me. I think that Select Blinds should show photos of their curtains when pulled all the way up. All photos only show them down or half way. It does not help when trying to shop for treatments. If I saw a photo of these prior I would of not ordered them for my needs. Select Blinds should also allow consumers to post photos on the reviews to help in future purchases. In all fairness I never called Select blinds to ask prior to ordering what they would look like when up or how far down the curtains hung down when all the way up. It really did not occur to me how ridged the material would be and it never crossed my mind since I tried it with the ones I had and it looked fine. I also never ordered a sample of the material and that may have prevented me from ordering them if I had seen how stiff they were. It would be helpful for the specifications to include that the material is stiffer if it is a blackout shade and also the specs of the blind from top of valance when drawn all the way up. I realize the longer the shade that lower it hangs but some sort of an estimate of height when retracted up giving ballparks within each style, i.e. hobbled, flat or classic would prove useful.

Product Info

Description

Elegance Blackout Roman Shades are part of the exclusive @ Home Collection by Carriann Johnson. These blackout shades will help transform the look and feel of any room into a comfortable and elegant space. Choose from a variety of solid and patterns printed on the fabric for the style that will best complement your room. These roman shades are available with hobbled option, top down bottom up, continuous cord loop, and cordless for additional safety. As with all of our products, these shades come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Features

The roman shades are available standard in a flat panel style that offers a modern, tailored look.

All roman shades feature a 3" fabric valance to conceal the headrail.

Shades are white to the outside for an uniform exterior appearance.

Conforms with C.P.S.C regulations.

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Privacy Factor: 4.5 out of 5

The marbleized fabric has a solid color with a print overlay. Please order a sample.

Options

Maintain privacy while keeping an outside view with the top down/bottom up option.

Continuous cord loop is available and recommended for ease in raising larger shades.

Cordless lift system available for additional child safety.

Cordless top down/bottom up is available.

Hobbled option is available adding dimension and interest to your windows.

DOWNLOADS - MEASURE & INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

PROFESSIONAL MEASURING & INSTALLATION

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Measuring Instructions For

- Inside Mount

All roman shades except Fusion

Width:

Measure the exact width (left to right) of the inside edge of the window frame in three places (top, middle and bottom).

Take the smallest of the three measurements.

Write down that size making sure that it is the first number of the measurement. This is the width you will order.

Factory will deduct 3/8" on all inside mount orders to ensure a proper fit.

*Finished dimension for shade will be 3/8" less ordered width.<br/>If Valance is ordered, it will be 1/8" less ordered width. Must have 3 ½" depth for flush mount.

Height:

Measure the exact height (top to bottom) from the top inside edge down to the window sill in three places.

Take the largest of the three measurements.

Write down that size making sure that it is the second number of the measurement. This is the height you will order.

Multiple shades with different lengths may not have the same size pleats. It is always recommended to order all shades using the longest length in the room.

Fusion Shades

Width:

Measure the exact width (left to right) of the inside edge of the window frame in three places (top, middle and bottom).

Take the smallest of the three measurements.

Write down that size making sure that it is the first number of the measurement. This is the width you will order.

Factory will deduct 3/8" less ordered width.

Height:

Measure the exact height (top to bottom) from the top inside edge down to the window sill in three places.

Take the largest of the three measurements.

Write down that size making sure that it is the second number of the measurement. This is the height you will order.

Height may vary by 1/8" – 1 1/2" longer than ordered drop.

Measuring Instructions For

- Outside Mount

All roman shades except Fusion

Width:

Measure the exact width (left to right) of the wooden or metal window frame or how wide you would like the blind or shade to be.

Make sure to measure wide enough as to cover the entire window and provide maximum light gap coverage. Example: If the window opening is 36", it might be helpful to order 40". This will provide 2" coverage on each side of the window.

There is no rule on the width of blinds other than to make sure that it is wide enough to cover the opening.

Write down that size making sure that it is the first number of the measurement. This is the width you will order.

Height:

Measure the height you would like the blind to be by measuring top to bottom.

We recommend adding about 3 or 4 inches to this number to insure maximum light gap coverage and to cover the window completely.

Please be sure to know that the height measurement will always include the headrail. Example: if the height ordered is 50" this will be the height including the headrail (from the very top of the headrail to the bottom rail).

You will want to mount the headrail above the window frame. Please make a note that some windows have trim that might interfere with mounting so it's important to measure above the trim if this is the case.

Multiple shade orders of different heights may not have the same size pleats. It is always recommended to order all shades using the longest length in the room.

Measure the exact width (left to right) of the wooden or metal window frame or how wide you would like the blind or shade to be.

Make sure to measure wide enough as to cover the entire window and provide maximum light gap coverage. Example: If the window opening is 36", it might be helpful to order 40". This will provide 2" coverage on each side of the window.

There is no rule on the width of blinds other than to make sure that it is wide enough to cover the opening.

Write down that size making sure that it is the first number of the measurement. This is the width you will order.

Fabric will measure ordered width.

Height:

Measure the height you would like the blind to be by measuring top to bottom.

We recommend adding about 3 or 4 inches to this number to insure maximum light gap coverage and to cover the window completely.

Please be sure to know that the height measurement will always include the headrail. Example: if the height ordered is 50" this will be the height including the headrail (from the very top of the headrail to the bottom rail).

You will want to mount the headrail above the window frame. Please make a note that some windows have trim that might interfere with mounting so it's important to measure above the trim if this is the case.